ISTHMIA - 2011

Isthmia. Sanctuary of Poseidon (including the Byzantine Fortress and Hexamilion).

T. Gregory (Ohio) reports on continuing exploration of a large Early Roman (or earlier) building (ca. 24 x 22m) in the area east of the temenos and north of the Roman bath (the Hexamilion Outworks area). This was not part of the second-century AD bath, but may have been a heated room added to the earlier, Classical bath prior to construction of the Roman baths. In its northwestern corner were the remains of a furnace designed to heat a space within the building: large quantities of soot and fragments of a heating system were found.

 

E. Gebhard (Chicago) reports on continuing artefact studies. Analysis of burned pottery in comparison with dated deposits from Corinth supports a date of 460-450 BC for the fire that destroyed the Archaic temple. All mortaria from the Great Circular Reservoir are now placed in the first half or mid-fifth century, supporting the hypothesis that the area of the reservoir was used for food preparation and feasting from ca.550 - 450 BC.

A group of figurines from the Sacred Glen west of the temenos of Poseidon differs from those associated with the main shrine in being typical for female deities, especially Demeter. In conjunction with two fourth-century inscribed dedications to Demeter from the same general area, they support the identification of a shrine to the goddess here.

Further observations are made on the figurines from the Sanctuary of Poseidon. Added to the ubiquitous horse-and-riders (ca. 250) four small votive shields are identified in the temenos floor of the late sixth and fifth centuries BC. Bulls, popular in the seventh century, decline and disappear by the fifth. Horses apart, few other animals are represented (dogs, birds, donkeys, snake, pig, dolphin). Human figures (handmade and moldmade) are mostly female and found outside the main temenos. A series of 24 boat models run from the later seventh century to ca. 500 BC. Figurines decline sharply in number and then disappear in the course of the fourth and third centuries.